The Plan
Over the past 20 years, with the help of the our community, Bayless School District has made steady progress in improving the infrastructure of its buildings. Upgrades to lighting, HVAC and flooring throughout our schools have helped keep us moving in the right direction.
With community input over the years, the District identified several important factors related to our schools: 1) The District should operate one PreK-5th Elementary School, one 6-8th Middle School and one 9-12th High School; 2) Bayless has limited land on which to develop; and 3) our residents appreciate resourcefulness in how we use and maintain our facilities.
A thorough review of our facilities with our architects, KRJ, Inc., indicates that our buildings are solidly built, have many updated features and are suitable for additions and renovations to increase their useful lives. The bottom line - with careful use of what we already have and the addition of space where appropriate - we have an opportunity to economically maximize our facilities.
In 2017, the Bayless Facilities Community Advisory Committee - a committee of parents, faculty, administrators and community members - reviewed our plans, met with our architects and ultimately recommended that we seek Board of Education approval to place a bond issue on the April 2018 ballot. Proposition A, a $0.34 tax increase, did not pass because it did not receive the 57.14% of yes votes needed to pass bond issues in Missouri. Some voters were reluctant to raise taxes to issue bonds. Despite this setback, the need for space at Bayless is very real, and continues.
Based upon voter feedback and positive economic conditions, Bayless was able to rearrange its plans and change the development timeline of the High School and Junior High School additions. By delaying construction of the High School Multi-Purpose building to a later date, Bayless is able to reduce the total amount of bonds needed in the near term. This means that Bayless can build the Junior High School expansion immediately, and make needed renovations to our facilities in the next three to five years. By reducing the Proposition 1 Bond issue to $7.3 million, Bayless is able to offer this bond issue on a NO TAX INCREASE basis. This means that selling these bonds will not raise your taxes.
With community input over the years, the District identified several important factors related to our schools: 1) The District should operate one PreK-5th Elementary School, one 6-8th Middle School and one 9-12th High School; 2) Bayless has limited land on which to develop; and 3) our residents appreciate resourcefulness in how we use and maintain our facilities.
A thorough review of our facilities with our architects, KRJ, Inc., indicates that our buildings are solidly built, have many updated features and are suitable for additions and renovations to increase their useful lives. The bottom line - with careful use of what we already have and the addition of space where appropriate - we have an opportunity to economically maximize our facilities.
In 2017, the Bayless Facilities Community Advisory Committee - a committee of parents, faculty, administrators and community members - reviewed our plans, met with our architects and ultimately recommended that we seek Board of Education approval to place a bond issue on the April 2018 ballot. Proposition A, a $0.34 tax increase, did not pass because it did not receive the 57.14% of yes votes needed to pass bond issues in Missouri. Some voters were reluctant to raise taxes to issue bonds. Despite this setback, the need for space at Bayless is very real, and continues.
Based upon voter feedback and positive economic conditions, Bayless was able to rearrange its plans and change the development timeline of the High School and Junior High School additions. By delaying construction of the High School Multi-Purpose building to a later date, Bayless is able to reduce the total amount of bonds needed in the near term. This means that Bayless can build the Junior High School expansion immediately, and make needed renovations to our facilities in the next three to five years. By reducing the Proposition 1 Bond issue to $7.3 million, Bayless is able to offer this bond issue on a NO TAX INCREASE basis. This means that selling these bonds will not raise your taxes.
Bayless Junior High
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Architect Renderings
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Bayless High School
While Bayless High School is adequately sized for our growing population once junior high students have their own building, its facilities are in need of updating and improvement
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Elementary
Thanks to Prop C in 2014, Bayless Elementary was connected and expanded. This greatly enhanced safety, security and usability of our school buildings. However, work still remains in the original buildings. The following are highlights of improvements and renovations that Prop 1 will allow:
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